Violet

said to have sprung from the blood of Ajax; but how the blood
of the mad boaster could produce this modest flower is past
understanding. (Latin, viola; Greek,.)

As when stern Ajax poured a purple flood,
The violet rose, fair daughter of his blood.

Dr. Young: The Instalment.

Chemical test paper is steeped in syrup of violets; used to detect
acids and alkalis. If an acid is present, it will change the violet
paper into red, an alkali will turn the paper green. Slips of white
paper stained with the juice of violets (kept from the air) will serve
the same purpose. Litmus and turmeric are also used for similar
purposes. The paper should be unsized.

Violet

The colour indicates the love of truth and the truth
of love. Pugin says it is used for black in mourning and fasting.

The violet on the tyrant's grave.

(Tennyson: Aylmer's Field.) The reference is to Nero's grave. It is said that some unknown hand
went by night and strewed violets over his grave Even Nero had one who
loved him. Lemprièe states that the statues of Nero, at death, “were
crowned with garlands of flowers.”

“I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father
died.”

So says Ophelia to the Queen. The violet in flower-language is
emblematical of innocence, and Ophelia says tho King, the Queen,
and even Hamlet himself now he has killed Polonius, are unworthy of
this symbol. Now my father is dead all the violets are withered,
all the court family are stained with blood-guiltiness.

This entire posy may be thus paraphrased: Both you and I are under a
spell, and there is “herb of grace” to disenchant us; there's a “daisy” to caution you against expecting that such wanton love as yours will
endure long; I would have given you a “violet” if I could, but now that
my father is killed all of you are blood-guilty. (Shakespeare: Hamlet, iv. 5.)

Violet

(Corporal). Napoleon Bonaparte. When Bonaparte was
banished to Elba he told his friends he would return with the violets,
and “Corporal Violet” was the favourite toast of his partisans. When he
broke his parole and reached Frejus, a gang of women assembled
with violets, which were freely sold. The shibboleth was, “Do you like
violets?” If the answer given was “Oui,” the person was known
not to be a confederate; but if the answer was “Eh bien,” the
respondent was recognised as an adherent.